Governor appoints six to disabilities panel

ALASKA NEWSPAPERS STAFF

January 11, 2008 at 9:24AM AKST

Six Alaska residents have been appointed to the Governor's Committee on Employment and Rehabilitation of People with Disabilities.

Gov. Sarah Palin appointed Ronald Broome, Joyanna Geisler, Grant L. Jackson, Hermann J. "Tuna" Scanlan, Patrick Shallcross and Lisa A. Smith on Dec. 26.

The committee supports Alaska residents with disabilities by helping provide rehabilitation and employment services, advising the state on ways to provide assistive technology and services, securing federal vocational rehabilitation funds, and creating statewide interest in employment and rehabilitation.

Members represent the broad array of state public, private and nonprofit services and advocacy organizations serving residents with disabilities.

Broome, of Anchorage, sells specialty hospital equipment and has long been involved in community services for employment of people with disabilities.

He has served as a micro-enterprise developer for the University of Alaska's Center for Human Development, on a state steering committee on customized employment of people with disabilities and as an organizer of a support group for parents whose children with disabilities are making school-to-work transitions.

Broome had previously served on the committee from 1998-2001. He was appointed to a seat reserved for an advocate for consumers of vocational rehabilitation services.

Geisler, of Homer, has been executive director of the Kenai Peninsula Independent Living Center in Homer since 1991. She was director of the Independent Living Center program at Homer's Community Mental Health Center from 1986-91.

Geisler is treasurer of the State Independent Living Council and has won the Governor's Award from the Governor's Committee on Employment and Rehabilitation of People with Disabilities.

She has a special education teacher certificate from the University of Montana. She was appointed to a seat reserved for a representative of the State Independent Living Council.

Jackson, of Anchorage, works as a parent trainer for Stone Soup, a nonprofit advocacy group. He had been a case manager for Denali Family Services and coordinator of community support services for the Bristol Bay region for Hope Community Resources.

Jackson serves on the board of directors of the Alaska Brain Injury Network and is a volunteer in the areas of behavioral health, early learning and youth.

He was appointed to a seat reserved for a parent trainer.

Scanlan, of Anchorage, is director of Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation projects for Cook Inlet Tribal Council Inc., where he has worked as a vocational rehabilitation counselor.

Scanlan has extensive experience at the American Samoa Community College, as human services department chair, vocational rehabilitation counselor supervisor, staff development coordinator, independent living coordinator, counselor and instructor.

He was an adjunct instructor at the University of Alaska Anchorage. He was appointed to a seat reserved for the director of a tribal vocational rehabilitation program.

Shallcross, of Haines, is a community services supervisor for REACH, a Southeast Alaska agency advocating for employment of disabled Alaskans.

He has owned and operated a music and book shop in Haines and has worked as an airline marketing director and travel agent. He was appointed to a seat reserved for a consumer of vocational rehabilitation services.

Smith, of Juneau, is a special education program manager for the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development.

She was a special education coordinator and teacher in the Aleutians East Borough School District, and a special education teacher in Montana.

She was appointed to a seat reserved for a representative of a state special education agency.